U.S. Women Finish World Cup with Silver

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Nov. 18, 2011) – The U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team dropped a 29-27, 25-23, 25-18 match to host Japan on Friday evening at Yoyogi National Stadium to finish with the silver medal in the FIVB World Cup.

Despite the loss, the U.S. (9-2, 26 points) achieved its primary goal of 2012 Olympic Games qualification one day earlier with a win over Italy. The silver medal also represent Team USA's highest finish in the FIVB World Cup after back-to-back bronze finishes in 2003 and 2007. However, Italy earned the FIVB World Cup gold medal with a 10-1 record after sweeping Kenya earlier Friday forcing the Americans to defeat Japan in either three or four sets to reach the top podium step.

The FIVB World Cup utilized a round-robin format resulting in 11 matches over a 15-day period. The FIVB World Cup awarded 2012 Olympic Games berths to the top three teams. Along with the U.S., Italy earned a ticket to the Olympics with the gold medal and China took the bronze and the third Olympic Games spot. For the full FIVB World Cup schedule and tournament details, visit the U.S. Women’s tournament event page at usavolleyball.org.

The U.S. led 23-21 in the opening set and had four set points only to have Japan rally to win 29-27. Japan built a 20-16 lead in the second set, only have the U.S. save three set points before the host country finished the frame at 25-23. Japan used a 3-0 run to build a 15-11 lead in the third set and held on for the 25-18 victory.

“Obviously today we weren’t at our best,” U.S. Women’s National Team Head Coach Hugh McCutcheon (Christchurch, New Zealand) said. “Japan played well, certainly in the last half of the tournament; they’ve improved. The most important thing was to gain qualification and we’ve done that. So overall our feeling is one of very strong positive emotion, but obviously tonight a very strong negative emotion, too. But we’ll move on and learn from today’s experience and hopefully learn in the future.”

Foluke Akinradewo (Plantation, Fla.) led the U.S. in scoring with 11 points via eight kills, two blocks and an ace. Logan Tom (Salt Lake City, Utah) added 10 points on eight kills and two blocks. Destinee Hooker (San Antonio, Texas), the Team USA leading scorer for the tournament and who was named the tournament's Best Spiker, was held to nine points on seven kills and two blocks. Jordan Larson (Hooper, Neb.) chipped in seven points on five kills and two blocks. Tayyiba Haneef-Park (Laguna Hills, Calif.) contributed six points, while Heather Bown (Yorba Linda, Calif.) and Megan Hodge (Durham, N.C.) each tallied four points. Danielle Scott-Arruda (Baton Rouge, La.) added one point in the loss.

Nicole Davis (Stockton, Calif.) totaled a U.S. team-high six digs, while Larson added five digs and 11 excellent receptions on 18 errorless attempts.

“Tonight obviously Japan came out to play,” said Berg, the U.S. captain. “They’re a really good team and if the other team doesn’t come out to play… We had a lost opportunity; Japan played amazing… [pauses] I’m sorry if I’m emotional here, I just care a lot. But we qualified [for the Olympics] and that’s positive. We had a great tournament, but we had missed opportunities with Germany and tonight with Japan. I just want to win and that’s why I’m here. But overall it’s been positive.”

McCutcheon started Berg at setter, Tom and Larson at outside hitter, Akinradewo and Bown at middle blocker and Hooker at opposite. Davis was the designated libero for the match.

The U.S. held a slim 8-6 margin in blocks, but it was not enough as Japan produced a 56-42 advantage in kills and a 4-2 edge in aces.

“I knew that China won before the game so I told the team that we at least needed to win the last game in order to finish on a high note,” Japan coach Masyosi Manabe said. “Our defense was really good throughout, and I was really pleased it was working well. Our goal, of course, was qualification, and missing that was disappointing. But our players and staff did a good job overall, so I’m happy.”